Vaginal Prolapse and Vaginal Vault Prolapse
Muscles, ligaments and skin in and around the vagina support and hold pelvic organs and tissues in place. This complex network includes the skin and muscles of the vagina walls. Parts of this support system may eventually weaken or break causing a vaginal prolapse. A vaginal prolapse is a condition when organs such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall out of their normal positions.
There are many types of vaginal prolapse:
- Cystocele (bladder prolapse)
- The bladder may prolapse into the vagina; the urethra can prolapse as well. A urethral prolapse is also known as an urethrocele. When both the bladder and urethra prolapse together this is a cystourethrocele.
- Rectocele (rectal prolapse)
- A prolapse of the back wall of the vagina (rectovaginal fascia) the rectal wall pushes against the vaginal wall, creating a bulge.This bulge may be more noticeable during bowel movements.
- Enterocele (small bowel prolapse or herniated small bowel)
- Weakening of the upper vaginal supports can cause this prolapse. This prolapse happens when the front and back walls of the vagina separate, allowing the intestines to push against the vaginal walls.
- Prolapsed uterus (womb)
- Weakening of the uterosacral ligaments at the top of the vagina causes the uterus to fall. Often both the front and back walls of the vagina to weaken as well. If the entire uterus protrudes entirely outside the vagina this is called procidentia, or complete prolapse.
- Vaginal vault prolapse
- May occur following a hysterectomy (15%). The uterus provides support for the top of the vagina. In vaginal vault prolapse, the top of the vagina gradually falls toward the vaginal opening; the vaginal walls will also weaken. Eventually, the top of the vagina may protrude out through the vaginal opening.
Healthy Pelvic Floor
Example of an Enterocele
Sadly, many women who develop symptoms of a vaginal prolapse do not seek medical help because of embarrassment or other reasons.
What can be done about vaginal prolapse?
- Use a Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Toner to help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic area and prevent further worsening of the vaginal prolapse (and other pelvic organ prolapses)
- Wear a vaginal pessary for added support
- Make lifestyle changes – lose weight if you need to, avoid straining and coughing
- Surgery
Alleviate the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse & strengthen the pelvic floor in just 12 weeks, with the help of the Kegel8 Ultra 20 & Amanda Savage!
Amanda Savage is one of the UK’s leading specialist pelvic floor and women’s health physiotherapists, who has worked in the field for over 20 years offering supervised pelvic floor muscle training and support for the recovery of pelvic organ prolapses, incontinence and pelvic surgeries. With post-graduate qualifications, including a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, she has also gained full membership of the Professional Network of Pelvic, Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP). As a Kegel8 ambassador, Amanda Savage has worked alongside us for many years in the development of our best-selling device, the Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 Electronic Pelvic Toner, to ensure its efficacy. In addition, she has been integral to ensuring all supporting information and instructions are medically accurate so that the device is used correctly/effectively, and treatment is tailored to the specific condition of the user.
Find out more about Amanda Savage, her qualifications, experience, knowledge, and affiliations here.
Comes complete with an easy exercise plan, created by Amanda Savage, to get results in 12 weeks!
Here at Kegel8, we are all too aware of the discomfort, not to mention the anxiety, that is caused by pelvic organ prolapse. So, if you are experiencing an uncomfortable ‘dragging’ sensation, are struggling with bladder and bowel control, bowel emptying and a lack of intimate sensation, you are certainly not alone! Indeed, more common that you may realise, pelvic organ prolapse affects millions of people worldwide. And we are extremely familiar with the impact it has on both physical and emotional well-being, as well as on life in general.
It’s true that, left untreated, the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse will simply worsen over time. However, they should by no means be accepted as an inevitability! Indeed, regular pelvic floor exercise has been proven to build muscle and tone, creating a thicker support shelf for the organs to rest on. This essentially holds them up and keeps them in place. In addition, much like any other exercise, it builds strength and tone to ensure the muscles do not tire easily and can react quickly to provide additional support during strenuous activities. This improved endurance and strength also helps with bladder and bowel control. So, by simply performing regular pelvic floor exercise, you can get your life back on track!
The included easy exercise plan was created by Amanda Savage to prevent, treat, and alleviate the associated symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. It is proven to build muscle and tone and create a thicker support shelf for the organs to rest on, essentially holding them up and keeping them in place. In addition, this simple exercise regime will improve endurance and ensure the muscles do not tire as easily, so that they can react quickly and provide the optimum support when performing strenuous activities. This improved endurance and strength also helps with bladder and bowel control and the contractions have been shown to calm the nerves responsible for a sensitive bladder. The plan even encourages the user to practise contracting their muscles alongside the machine, which prepares them for ‘real life’ scenarios when they don’t have access to the machine.
So, why opt for an electronic pelvic floor exerciser rather than performing your Kegels independently?
It is thought that many women push downwards when performing independent pelvic floor exercises, which, rather than strengthening the muscles, can lead to further damage. In addition, it can be difficult to locate and target the correct muscles, making exercise less effective. The Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 Electronic Pelvic Toner removes the guesswork and essentially acts as a Sat-Nav for your pelvic floor muscles, correctly targeting and stimulating a contraction within them using a small electric current. These contractions build strength and tone in a matter of weeks! With 20 clinically proven pelvic floor exercise programmes which vary in frequency, intensity and duration, the Ultra 20 is proven to treat a variety of different conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse and bladder/bowel control and emptying. And, in addition to tailored programmes, the specific 12-week exercise plans created by Amanda Savage advise exactly how the device should be used, depending upon the condition, to ensure the very best treatment.